Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Even If You’ve Finally Moved In, Your Tasks are Not Over Yet

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Don’t think that once you have finally arrived at your new place, you no longer have anything to do. In fact, the tasks have just begun. There are a lot of things that you need to settle before you can finally take a rest. Here are some important reminders.

Say hi to your neighbours

You might not find this important but establishing a good relationship with the people closest to you is a must. If there are emergency problems, you can contact them for help. If you need someone to talk to, they can also be there as they are the nearest people to you. You should find some time just to say hi and let them know more about you.

Check the local post office

It is important that you have transferred all the mail addressed to your old house to your new house. Check with the post office if there has been mail delivered to your old place. This is pretty common. You should organise this even before moving to your new place. You must advise those who need to know about your change of address, especially for important bills.

Look for local professionals

It is great if you know a doctor or a vet whom you can really trust. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want to just find anyone close to you. While you have the time, start searching for local professionals. Ask your neighbours if they have recommendations. Read online reviews. Visit their offices or call them.

Contact insurance companies

You need a new insurance policy now that you are in a different place. If the previous insurance still applies, it would be great. You just have to change the address.

Consider getting a storage space

You might not have the time to arrange everything in your new place immediately. You should consider renting a storage space in a nearby facility. You can keep some items there while you are still fixing up your new place. It is more practical. Besides moving in to a new place can get messy. The last thing you want is a whole bunch of boxes left unopened in the corner of every room. Make your life easier and stay organized.

Hire a professional moving company

If the tasks involved once you have moved in seem overwhelming, imagine if you are yet to move. There are a lot more tasks that have to be done. Ask for help from a professional moving company like http://www.advanced-removals.co.uk. They will be there as scheduled. They can help pack the items, place them on a truck and deliver them to your new place.

It is not easy moving to a new place but if the opportunities are there, grab the chance. You should also get all the help you can get to make things easier.

 

Image: Pixabay.com

Helping children understand the death of a pet

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The death of a family pet is an unexpected and sudden shock for a child. It is common for a cat, dog, rabbit or other animal to be part of the extended family, and when coupled with the fact that it is often a child’s first encounter with death, the process of dealing with the loss can be challenging for everyone.

Young children are not able to fully comprehend death as adults do and how they view it generally changes quickly as they grow up. From ages three to five, they often regard death as being reversible or temporary, but this changes from ages six to eight and then again at nine to eleven as they begin to understand that it is part of life, and is inevitable and irreversible.

Each child is unique so you should approach the subject with regard to your child’s personality. Chair of the Department of Early Childhood, Abigail McNamee, believes you should ask yourself several questions beforehand. She says: “How many experiences has your child had with death? How have you talked with him or her about death? What’s been seen on television?”

McNamee recommends an “honest, accurate and brief” approach to pet death and warns that using phrases such as “went to sleep” or “passed away” may cause confusion. Instead, tell them that the pet has died, but make it sound as peaceful as possible, and spare them any details that could be traumatic. You can then use their questions and reactions to gauge their general feelings and ideas about death, before moving on to make pet funeral arrangements.

If you’re feeling stressed about organising a funeral/reception for your children to say goodbye to their pet, it can be done as simple as possible, and still have full meaning. Concentrate on celebrating the good times.

Grieving process

Grieving is a part of life that at some point we all go through, and you should always include your child in the process as they need to say goodbye. You can ask them what they would like to do and offer suggestions such as drawing pictures of the pet or sharing funny stories about it. However, there is no rule for grieving and you must be vigilant about the fact they may not react in the way you would. McNamee adds: “She might go in and out of strong feelings – be intensely sad, then begin to play and act as if it hasn’t happened.”

These fluctuations in temperament can last up to month but your child may need extra support if they have trouble letting go, and it subsequently affects their wellbeing, either through lack of sleep or trouble at school. If this happens, you should ask them if they are feeling sad and whether they want to talk to someone about it. Recounting your own childhood experiences can help you to relate to them and ease any concerns.s

Children will eventually come to terms with a pet’s passing, and many will gain a better perspective on death as a result. They will then probably want to get another pet but McNamee recommends waiting for around six months before doing so. You can use this period to anticipate the arrival of a pet and ask them about favored breeds and possible names to keep their minds on the future.

Photowall Review

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I was approached by Photowall.com to do a review of one of their products. I take pride in doing honest reviews of products and figured it would be fairly straight forward as all their prints and wallpaper looked high quality. But, let me tell you… my experience with this site and their customer service has been amazing.

Firstly, it took me weeks… WEEKS to decide which print I wanted. The woman who had originally approached me about the review was so patient with me and would politely check in ever other week. I felt so bad that I was taking forever, but I finally decided on the canvas print Beach Path.

I had an issue with typing the wrong address and they followed up with me immediately. The support emails were friendly, polite and very helpful. After I had taken ages to decide on my print, they were still so kind and patient.

The print was delivered to my house within a few days and although I was worried about putting together such a large canvas myself, my man wouldn’t be home for hours – so I gave it a try. I watched Photowall’s how-to-video and to my surprise, I had the canvas done in 20 minutes. I was SO proud of myself!

My plan was to put the canvas in my office at work and I was so excited from putting it together myself that I forgot to measure my stairway. When I tried to bring the canvas downstairs, it wouldn’t fit. Being extremely busy, I put off dealing with it for another week or two. Again, I would get friendly and patient emails from the staff at Photowall wondering how it was going with the canvas.

Although I would not recommend this, I managed to take the canvas partially apart and put it back together at my office. The results of my beautiful print are below. I absolutely LOVE it. I don’t like to gush about things overly, but I will definitely be using Photowall again to add some colour to the basement (man cave).

Walls say a lot about a place. Usually, the décor on the wall can reveal about the inhabitant’s interests and personality. Walls can also define the appearance of a room. Well- decorated walls can revamp a once boring room while poorly done walls detract a lot from a room, like my office or basement.
There are countless ways to decorate your walls- from something as simple as hanging pictures to something as complex as a wall mural. Photowall is a Swedish company who’s main goal is to bring life to your walls. Here are the top reasons to get your wall décor from this reputable company:
More Information About Photowall
1. Countless Designs
When it comes to wall décor, Photowall offers you a wide array of designs to choose from. For wall murals, there are over 3000 motifs and over 70 designers from all over the world. Why, you can even determine exactly what kind of environment you want for your walls by designing it yourself and then uploading the photos. That way, you can rest assured that your decoration will be one- of- a- kind for all the good reasons.
2. Quality Décor
Another thing that sets Photowall décor from other types is the superior quality of the decorations. For instance, the canvas prints are made purely from cotton. Additionally, the paintings do not fade from exposure to the sun and are fire- retardant. Nothing spells quality better.
3. Affordable
Even better is the fact that these quality products come at reasonable prices. For the quality of Photowall products, they are priced rather low; for products of their caliber. Every single coin you spend on them is well worth it.
4. Easy DIY Décor
If you have been reluctant to get your walls decorated out of the conviction that it is a lot of work, Photowall is the perfect solution to your troubles. The décor can be hung up in very little time, and is not energy consuming either. If you opt to get the canvas prints, you can also choose whether or not to use the accompanying frame. Their easy do it yourself décor gives you no excuse not to get your walls decorated.
Conclusion
You would be hard put to find an interior décor company with deals half as good as those of Photowall. To start with, whatever decoration you buy from the company, you can rest assured that it will be of superior quality.

5 Ways to Make Organising a Funeral Wake/Reception Simple

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If a loved one has recently passed away, you may be overwhelmed both by your loss and by the responsibility of organising a funeral or a wake. Prepaid funerals will definitely help reduce the stress during such a hard time, but not everyone has the funeral prepaid. So, if you’re feeling stressed out, simply continue reading to discover 5 tips which will make organizing a funeral or wake as simple as possible. 

5 Ways to Make Organising a Funeral Wake/Reception Simple:

  1. Use a funeral director

Funeral directors can help reduce your stress dramatically. If a loved one such as a parent, grandparent or partner passes away, it’s well worth hiring an experienced funeral director will able to guide you through each step of planning a funeral. As you may not be aware of the tasks which must be dealt out before a wake or funeral. As an example, you’ll have to prepare a eulogy, order flowers and choose a photograph of the deceased, to appear on the front of their funeral program. 

  1. Get simple food recipes for funerals

While many families feel pressure to provide catering for their guests, there’s no point spending countless hours slaving away in the kitchen as most guests have little appetite at a funeral. Instead, search for simple, fuss-free recipes which will take little preparation time. You can even find creative recipes using simple foods such as, vegetables or fruit. This will for sure impress your guests while keeping it easy and less stressful. 

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help 

Don’t be too proud to accept help. As an example, why not ask a trusted family member to invite some of your deceased’s family and friends to the funeral, which you’re organizing. As you may not be emotionally up to breaking the bad news to dozens of family members and friends. Alternatively, if a friend offers to drop off precooked meals or to babysit your kids, don’t be afraid to accept their offer. As the fewer tasks you have on your plate, the better.

  1. Concentrate on celebrating the good times

Let the individual who has passed away’s rich life, inspire their funeral service or wake. As an example. why not feature some of their favorite songs during their funeral service or wake? You may even be interested in sharing some of their favorite jokes, with your guests, to lighten the mood. If you plan on hosting a funeral reception, you may want to place some of your favorite photos of your late friend, partner or family member on a table. Followed by some of their favorite things, such as their favorite sweets or their favorite CDs. 

  1. Don’t feel pressured to purchase the most expensive casket on offer

Caskets typically range in price from $5,000. With some caskets be priced at $7,000 – $10,000. However, there’s absolutely no need to feel pressured to impress others with a fancy casket. As the purpose of a funeral is for individuals who care about the deceased to celebrate their loved one’s life. Concentrate on sharing memories and supporting each other, instead of spending a small fortune on things such as a casket, flowers, and catering. 

So if you’re currently in the process of planning a funeral or wake, it’s well worth hiring a funeral director for emotional and practical support and asking assistance from your loved ones. Remember if in doubt, keep it simple!

Is Laminate Flooring Waterproof?

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Laminate flooring is a popular option for homeowners since it is widely available, economical to purchase, and available in a wide variety of colours and styles. It is easy to find a laminate flooring option that fits within your budget and with the décor of the room in question. Therefore it is no surprise that laminate flooring is a popular choice for the bathroom and the kitchen.

But is laminate flooring really suitable for these areas of the home, where there is the high potential for water spills, and where the atmosphere is often damp and humid? Is laminate flooring actually waterproof?

No, Laminate Flooring Is Not Waterproof

In general, laminate flooring is not going to be waterproof. You’re going to want to be careful with what cleaning materials you use as well. This is because most laminate flooring options are made from hardwood particles and recycled hardwood. This means that if laminate flooring is in an environment that is humid, or if it comes into contact with water, it can warp. It can also ride up and become dislodged from the sub-floor, creating gaps in the flooring.

But surely since laminate flooring has a plastic layer, it must be waterproof? Not really, since the layer is not always strong enough to be able to withstand humidity and direct water spills. You shouldn’t assume that all laminate floor options are waterproof.

But There Are Waterproof Options

However, you can get some special waterproof laminate flooring solutions. Some laminate floors are marketed as being water resistant and therefore they can withstand water spills and can work in a bathroom or kitchen. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer to make sure you are buying the right flooring for your purposes.

If laminate flooring is not ideal for you, there are more waterproof options. These include luxury vinyl flooring. This option is ideal if you want a completely waterproof floor. You do not have the problem of this floor absorbing water, warping, or disfiguring. Water just sits on the surface of this flooring, ready to be wiped or cleaned away. Luxury vinyl flooring is the ideal choice for a bathroom and it is available in a wide variety of patterns and styles, to suit all budgets.

Cork flooring is also an option. Cork tiles are popular for bathrooms since they are naturally water-resistant. Plus, the texture of cork is pleasing and it offers good insulating properties. It is best to have cork tiles coated with an additional layer of waterproofing if you are installing them in a bathroom since this will further protect the floor from spillages.

If you are looking for waterproof flooring there are certainly many good options out there to choose from. You don’t have to opt for a simple, non-waterproof laminate floor since there is more choice for all budgets.